Lounge chair



May 25, 1954 J, LUCKHARDT 2,679,284

LOUNGE CHAIR Filed Oct. 51, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR JOHHNNES LUCKHQRDT ATTORNEY May 25, 1954 Filed Oct. 51, 1951 J. LUCKHARDT LOUNGE CHAIR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR \JOHHN NES LUCK HHRUT ATTORNEY Patented May 25, 1954 UNITED STATE i TENT OFFICE LOUNGE CHAIR 9 Claims.

This invention relates to articles of furniture, and more particularly to lounge-chairs.

An object of the invention is .to provide a loungechair having a back-rest and a seat included in a link system, which lounge-chair may be readily collapsed and set up.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible lounge-chair, which may be collapsed in such a manner that it occupies in its collapsed condition less than one half of the space it occupies when set up.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lounge-chair equipped with a link system in cluding a movable back-rest and a movable seat, wherein the movable members of the lounge-chair assume automatically their sitting position upon a person leaving the chair.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lounge-chair with a movable back-rest and seat, which may be readily manufactured at a low cost.

A further object of the invention is to improve on the construction of lounge-chairs as now ordinarily made.

Other objects and structural details of the invention will be apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a loungechair according to the invention when set up;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the loungechair shown in Fig. 1, the lounge-chair, however, being in a collapsed condition;

Fig. 3 is a side ele'vational view of a different embodiment of a lounge-chair according to the invention, when set up, and

Fig. 4. is a side elevational view of the loungechair shown in Fig. 3, the chair, however, being in collapsed condition.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, l generally indicates a collapsible support comprising a rear portion I2 and a front portion Ill pivotally connected with each other at their aligned ground engaging portions at 16. Each of said front and rear portions of the support comprises tubular side frames connected with each other by cross bars or the like. The extreme end of each side frame of the rear portion I2 of the support forms an armrest I8. The rear portion I2 and front portion IQ of the collapsible support ID are provided with abutting surfaces 20, 22, arranged for limiting a swinging movement of the front portion I 4 about the pivot IS in clockwise direction.

A back-rest 24 swingably mounted on the rear Application October 31, 1951, Serial No. 254,043

portion I2 of th support ID at 26 is pivotally connected at its lower end at 28 with the rear end portion of a seat 30. On each side of the chair, the front end portion of the seat 30 is pivotally connected at 32 with the upper end of a link 34 .pivoted at its lower end to the front portion Id of the support l0 at 36. The pair of links 34 are connected with each other by a cross bar 38.

A leg-rest 40 is rigidly connected with the seat 30. In the embodiment shown in the drawings the frames of the seat 30 and the leg-rest 4B are integral with each other.

When the lounge-chair is set up, as shown in Fig. 1, the sitting position of the movable backrest 24 and seat 30 is limited by an abutment of the seat 38 against the upper end of the link 3 The position of the link 34 in turn is limited by a stop 37 mounted on the front portion I4 of the support It for cooperation with a projection 35 of the link 34. A person resting on the chair may readily bring the movable members of the loungechair from the sitting position, shown in full lines in Fig. 1, into a reclined position, shown in dash and dot lines in Fig. l, by leaning the weight of his body against the back-rest 24. When the person leaves the chair, the movable members of the chair will automatically return from the re clined position into the sitting position.

If desired, the extreme reclined position may be limited by a stop (not shown) which may be arranged on the rear portion of the support for cooperation with the back-rest.

Furthermore, locking means may be arranged for holding the movable members of the chair in an intermediate reclined position.

As may be gathered from the Fig. 1, a plane 42 including the pivot 26 between the back-rest 24' and the rear portion 12 of the support It) and the pivot 28 between the back-rest 2 3 of the seat '30, when the movable members of the chair are in the sitting position, intersects the ground engaging portion of the support at the point A, which is farther away from th front end of the lounge chair than the pivotal connection I 6 between the rear portion I2 and the front portion I l of the support. This feature prevents the support It from an undesired automatical collapsing when a person sits on the chair. Preferably the location of the pivots 26, 28 and I6 is chosen in such a way that the plane 42 including the pivots 26 and 28 includes also the pivot It or intersects the rear portion I2 of the support I0 at a point to the left from the pivot l6, as viewed in Fig. 1.

When the lounge-chair shall be shipped or stored away or carried from one place to another, it can readily be collapsed and brought into the condition shown in Fig. 2. During the collapsing operation, which for example could be carried out by holding the back-rest 24 and swinging the seat 3!} about the pivot 23 towards the back-rest 24, the front portion I4 of the support II] is swung relative to the rear portion 52 of the support In about the pivot I5. (See Fig. 1.) The distance a between the pivot I6 and the rear end of the chair is less than one half of the distance 2) between the front end of the leg-rest 4D and the rear end of the chair. Thus, the chair occupies in the collapsed condition less than one half of the space it occupies when set up. This feature is very practical for shipping the loungechair in a crate.

According to the embodiment shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the collapsed support IIB again comprises a rear portion otally connected with each other at Mt. If desired, abutting means could be provided for so as to limit the relative movement of the front portion H4 to the rear portion H2 in clockwise direction.

The back-rest I24 swingably mounted on the rear portion I I2 of the support i It) at I26 is pivotally connected at I23 with the rear end portion of the seat I30. The pivotal connection I23 between the seat I36 and the back-rest I251 is located below the plane of the pivotal connection I26 between the back-rest I24 and rear portion I I2 of the support III).

Again the frames of the seat I38 and the legrest I40 are integral with each other.

On each side of the chair a cam M4 is secured to the seat I39. Furthermore, on each side of the chair a roller I45 journalled at I48 on the front portion II4 of the support I55 is arranged for cooperation with the cam I44. The cam has two oppositely inclined camrning surfaces I5& and I52.

When the chair is set up, as shown in Fig. 3, the movable members of the chair may be brought from the sitting position, shown in full lines, into a reclined position, shown in dash and dot lines, by swinging the back-rest I24 about its pivot I25. During this movement the roller I45 is engaged with the cam surface I50 of the cam I44 for causing a predetermined movement of the seat in coordination with the movement of the back-rest.

The sitting position of the movable members of the chair is limited by an abutting engagement of the roller I46 with a stop I54 carried by a the leg-rest. If desired, the extreme reclined position of the movable members of the chair may be limited by another stop (not shown).

A rounded intermediate surface I56 forms a transition between the camming surfaces E58 and I52.

During the collapsing of the chair the roller I46 may move along the camming surface I50, thereafter along the rounded portion I56 and then along the camming surface I52, whereupon it comes into engagement with the straight portion of the seat I30. Thus, by swinging the front portion II4 of the support IHJ about the pivot I I5, the seat I30 is brought into the elevated position shown in Fig. 4.

According to the embodiment shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the seat I30 and the cam I44 carried by the seat are disengageable from the roller I46. If desired, however, means could be provided for,

H2 and a front portion H4 pivfor example a curved slot could be arranged on the seat, for holding the roller I46 in non-detachable engagement with the seat.

Furthermore, if desired, holding means, such as hooks or the like, could be arranged on the chair in such a manner, that they hold the members of the chair in the collapsed condition, shown in Fig. 4, when they are brought into their holding position.

Furthermore, if desired, the roller i46 may be replaced by an abutting surface arranged, on the front portion I I4 of the support IID for cooperation with the cam I44.

I have described preferred embodiments of the invention, but it is understood that this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration, and that various omissions 0r changes in shape, proportion and arrangement of parts, as well as the substitution of equivalent elements for those herein shown and described, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A lounge-chair comprising in combination: a collapsible support including a front portion and a rear portion, a back-rest swingably mounted on the rear portion of said support, a seat, the rear end portion of said seat being pivoted to said back-rest at a point below the connection between the back-rest and the rear portion of said support, said front portion of the support having a first ground engaging base section extending substantially in a longitudinal direction, said rear portion of the support having a second ground engaging base section extending substantially in longitudinal direction and aligned with said first ground engaging base section, said front and rear portions of the support being pivotally connected with each other at their base sections at a point below the seat, means, interposed between the front portion of said support and the front end portion of said seat, for effecting movement of the latter in coordination with a movement of the back-rest when the collapsible support is set up for use, and a leg-rest connected with said seat.

2. A lounge-chair comprising in combination: a collapsible support including a front portion and a rear portion, a back-rest swingably mounted on the rear portion of said support, a seat, the rear end portion of said seat being pivoted to said backrest at a point below the connection between the back-rest and the rear portion of said support, said front portion of the support having a first ground engaging base section extending substantially in a longitudinal direction, said rear portion of the support having a second ground engaging base section extending substantially in longitudinal direction and aligned with said first ground engaging base section, said front and rear portions of the support being pivotally connected with each other at their base sections at a point below the seat, means, interposed between the front portion of said support and the front end portion of said seat, for effecting movement of the latter in coordination with a movement of the back-rest when the collapsible support is set up for use, and a leg-rest connected with said seat, the pivotal connection between the front and rear portions of said support being nearer to the front end of the chair than a plane including the pivotal connection between the back-rest and the rear portion of the support and the pivotal connection between the backrest and the seat when the back-rest and seat are in the sitting position.

3. A lounge-chair comprising in combination: a collapsible support including a front portion and a rear portion, a back-rest swingably mounted on the rear portion of said support, a seat, the rear end portion of said seat being pivoted to said back-rest at a point below the connection between the back-rest and the rear portion of said support, said front portion of the support having a first ground engaging base section extending substantially in a longitudinal direction, said rear portion of the support having a second ground engaging base section extending substantially in longitudinal direction and aligned with said first ground engaging base section, said front and rear portions of the support being pivotally connected with each other at their base sections at a point below the seat, means, interposed between the front portion of said support and the front end portion of said seat, for effecting movement of the latter in coordination with a movement of the back-rest when the collapsible support is set up for use, and a leg-rest connected with said seat, the pivotal connection between the front and rear portions of said support being nearer to the front end of the chair than the pivotal connection between the back-rest and the seat.

4. A lounge-chair comprising in combination: a collapsible support including a front portion and a rear portion, a back-rest swingably mounted on the rear portion of said support, a seat, the rear end portion of said seat being pivoted to said back-rest at a point below the connection between the back-rest and the rear portion of said support, said front portion of the support having a first ground engaging base section extending substantially in a longitudinal direction, said rear portion of the support having a second ground engaging base section extending substantially in longitudinal direction and aligned with said first ground engaging base section, said front and rear portions of the support being pivotally connected with each other at their base sections at a point below the seat, a link, the lower end portion of said link being pivoted to the front end portion of said support, the upper end portion of said link being pivoted to the front end portion of said seat, and a leg-rest connected with said seat.

5. A lounge-chair comprising in combination: a collapsible support including a front portion and a rear portion, a back-rest swingably mounted on the rear portion of said support, a seat, the rear end portion of said seat being pivoted to said back-rest at a point below the connection between the back-rest and the rear portion of said support, said front portion of the support having a first ground engaging base section extending substantially in a longitudinal direction, said rear portion of the support having a second ground engaging base section extending substantially in longitudinal direction and aligned with said first ground engaging base section, said front and rear portions of the support being ivotally connected with each other at their base sections at a point below the seat, cooperating abutting surfaces arranged on the front portion of said support and on the front end portion of said seat for mutual engagement so as to effect movement of the seat in coordination with a movement of the backrest when the collapsible support is set up for use, and a leg-rest connected with said seat.

6. A lounge-chair comprising in combination: a collapsible support including a front portion and a rear portion, a back-rest swingably mounted on the rear portion of said support, a seat, the rear end portion of said seat being'pivoted to said back-rest at a point below the connection between the back-rest and the rear portion of said support, said front portion of the support having a first ground engaging base section extending substantially. in a longitudinal direction, said rear portion of the support having a second ground engaging base section extending substantially in longitudinal direction and aligned with said first ground engaging base section, said front and rear portions of the support being pivotally connected with each other at their base sections at a point below the seat, a camming surface arranged on the front end portion of the seat, an abutting surface arranged on the front portion of said support for engagement with said camming surface so as to effect movement of the seat in coordination with a movement of the back-rest when the collapsible support is set up for use, and a leg rest connected with said seat.

7. A lounge-chair comprising in combination: a collapsible support including a front portion and a rear portion, a back-rest swingably mounted on the rear portion of said support, a seat, the rear end portion of said seat being pivoted to said back-rest at a point below the connection between the back-rest and the rear portion of said support, said front portion of the support having a first ground engaging base section ex tending substantially in a longitudinal direction, said rear portion of the support having a second ground engaging base section extending substantially in longitudinal direction and aligned with said first ground engaging base section, said front and rear portions of the support being pivotally connected with each other at their base sections at a point below the seat, a camming surface arranged on the front end portion of the seat, a roller rotatably mounted on the front portion of said support for engagement with said camming surface so as to effect movement of the seat in coordination with a movement of the back-rest when the collapsible support is set up for use, and a leg-rest connected with said seat.

8. A lounge-chair comprising in combination: a collapsible support including a front portion and a rear portion, a back-rest swingably mounted on the rear portion of said support, a seat, the rear end portion of said seat being pivoted to said back-rest at a point below the connection between the back-rest and the rear portion of said support, said front portion of the support having a first ground engaging base section extending substantially in a longitudinal direction, said rear portion of the support having a second ground engaging base section extending substantially in longitudinal direction and aligned with said first ground engaging base section, said front and rear portions of the support being pivotally connected with each other at their base sections at a point below the seat, cooperating guiding means arranged on the front portion of said support and on the front end and at least the center portion of said seat for mutual engagement so as to effect movement of the seat in coordination with a movement of the back-rest when the collapsible support is set up for use and to move the seat into a collapsed position in coordination with a movement of the front portion of the support during the collapsing of the support, and a leg-rest connected with said seat.

9. In a lounge-chair as claimed in claim 8, said guiding means including a cam mounted on the seat and provided with oppositely inclined camming surfaces, and an abutting surface arranged on the front portion of said support for ooopera tive engagement with said cam.

Name Date Travers Sept. 15, 1942 Number Number Name Date Heddens Apr. 25, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Oct. 13, 1924 France Dec. 12, 1931 Great Britain Aug. 10, 1937 Great Britain Aug. 15, 1947 

